Animals Quote by Margo Lanagan
““All the expressions that are possible crossed its face, as if its thoughts were wise and limitless one moment, daft and animal the next. And Liga too was pulled towards awe, that this little girl-thing gave off such an air of being entitled, and then towards pity at its abjectness and its frailty and-how soft it was, the surface of it, and so warm! She could not believe the tiny makings of its mouth, or its perfected eyelashes, its ears like uncrumpling buds, all down and tenderness. She was full of the joy of her father being gone-that she could sit like this all night if she wanted, not bothered or harangued, without a remark from any other person, and watch this creature busy with its morsel of life, its scrap of sleep, its breaths light as moth-wings lifting its narrow red chest.””
About This Quote
Source Short Story: “The Beast” in The Dreaming, 2005
The narrator is overwhelmed by a creature’s shifting expressions, feeling awe, pity, and comfort in its fragile, tender presence while reflecting on personal loss and solitude.
In simple terms: A creature’s changing face evokes awe, pity, and a soothing sense of solitude.
Key Takeaway
Embrace moments of quiet observation to find comfort in vulnerability.
Themes
awe
compassion
solitude
loss
vulnerability
Mood
reflective
melancholic
gentle
Type
literary
descriptive
emotional
When to use this quote
- grieving
- nighttime reflection
- watching a small animal
- personal introspection
Key Concepts
empathy
transient beauty
human-animal connection
Questions to Reflect On
- What does the creature’s fragility teach us about our own emotional states?
- How can observing another’s vulnerability help us process loss?
A Different Perspective
The description may romanticize suffering, overlooking the creature’s own agency.
